The first monument you come to after entering the Runnymeade Meadows land near the Tea House is the John F Kennedy Memorial.

It stands in land given to the People of the United States of America by the People of Britain and is therefore now American territory. The Memorial honours the memory of the assassinated American President John F Kennedy.

The Steps of Individuality

From the gate in Runnymede Meadows & Memorials, visitors reach the memorial by walking a steep path of irregular granite steps, intended to symbolise a pilgrimage. These steps are called ' The Steps of Individuality' – one step for each year of the President’s life.

At the top of the steps, in a wooded glade is a large Portland Stone tablet inscribed with the famous quote from President Kennedy's Inaugural Address:

‘Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty’.

The Memorial was unveiled on 14th May 1965 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of President Kennedy's widow and her two children.